I think you may find that FD rates are going down and ASM FP Fund rates are slowly but surely improving. I would go for ASM ahead of FD for the time being.

In theory, yes, forex losses on repatriated gains but, in practice, diversification should mitigate most of any losses. And we are not even really talking about ‘losses’ - it is really just a slightly reduced profit.

I am confident that our money is safe in ASM3. It was the latest ASM FP fund to open so it doesn't have the history (and maybe the level of reserves) that the other FP funds may have but its performance has been consistent with ASM1 and ASM2 over the years and it would be politically unacceptable imho to allow any of these funds to fail.

Bursa has already started to bounce back today and is still up 8.63% in the last 12 months. I think ASM2, ASM3 fund performances will be above 4.75% but that the dividends will be restricted to 4.75% to build reserves and ensure that ASM1 remains the flagship ASM FP fund.

As I have previously stated, the important dividend this year is ASB1, due 31/12/24 as that will set the upper limit for ASB/ASM FP funds in 2025. It is unwise to try to look too far into the future in today's very uncertain world but I think 4.75% for ASM2/3, around 5.75% for ASB1 and at least 5.0% for ASM1,2,3 in 2025.

I can't see a global recession coming unless the geo political situation takes a very dramatic turn for the worse. I think we are still looking good for at least 5% in 2025 at the moment.

Well, another 2 weeks or so to the ASM2 dividend announcement. The KLSE has bounced back, the Ringgit is stronger, markets are looking solid so I am confident of at least 4.75%.

Yes, I am fully aware of that. Thank you anyway. I was pointing out that all the markers have bounced back from the minor setback recently. Hopefully there will be no major geo political events to affect dividends.

We have accounts for our 8 year old daughter.

I access her account details via the Bijak/Remaja link in the MyASNB app.

I can add funds to her account via FPX but I cannot switch between her funds and ours.

EPF is predicted around 6% this year after a big increase in profit. Hopefully, similar good news awaits ASM and ASB FP funds.

I think there might be a certain amount of replenishing reserves which takes place but I cannot see how ASM2 ASM3 can be less than 4.75% this year.

I think your conservative approach is sensible but I also think that 6% (or very close to it) is quite possible for EPF.

Still doing it on all ASB and ASM FP funds on my app.

Is anybody still having a problem with the myASNB app? I am using ios and whenever I click on a fund the screen blanks. Website still seems to work ok.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Aug 20 2024, 12:47 PM

Two schools of thought I suppose:

1. Funds are really performing well and ASNB feel they can bring more people on board.

2. Funds are not performing very well and new investment is needed to subsidise this year's dividends.

I really have no idea, for certain, but recent fund dividends do seem to be backed up by a solid fund performance so I wouldn't let it put you off investing.

They could but that is real PONZI operation.

I actually think that the funds are safe and I still have a considerable stake in ASM ASB funds. The ASM2/3 dividends are important but, just as important, will be the funds performance data when it is released so we can see if any ‘subsidies’ were necessary in the dividends.

Some good news to confirm. There is an update for the myASNB app which clears all the issues we were experiencing.

I think diversification is still sensible but I have no concerns about investing in ASM.

I am inclined to agree and I am feeling cautiously optimistic.

4.75% for ASM2 and ASM3 would be my guess. If the recovery continues then around 5.75% to 6% for ASB1 31/12/24 and at least 5% for all ASM FP funds in 2025.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Aug 20 2024, 10:44 PM

There is no right or wrong answer to that.

The good side is that it smooths out the dividends and probably protected us from a 3% return during the pandemic years.

The bad side is that you don’t get the full benefit during the good years.

It is what it is and people who really don’t like it obviously have the option to invest elsewhere. The longer you remain invested, the closer that your total actual returns will match total fund performance. So just regard it as a long term investment.

I am comfortable with the way the funds do their business but each to their own, of course.